McKenzie, Malcolm

MCKENZIE

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 10/31/2008 at 14:17:59

Malcolm McKenzie

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.234, Silver Creek Twp.)
Malcolm McKenzie, farming, P. O. Living Spring. Mr. McKensie was born in Scotland August 4, 1834, and came to Prince Edward's Island in 1836 with his parents, who lived there as long as they lived. He came to Maine in 1853, and has lived in the United States ever since, coming to Council Bluffs in 1855, but remained there only a short time, and then went to Minnesota and followed lumbering for five years; then went to Colorado with the gold-seekers; from here he went to Idaho, on Salmon River; then to Washington Territory, adn then to Portland, Ore., where he remained for some time, and then back to Idaho, where he was mining for two years; then came back to Denver, Colo., where he remained for three eyars and was engaged also in mining; then drove stage for one year from Brither Path to Green River for Wells & Fargo. In fall of 1867, October, was married at Golden City, Colo., to Miss Elizabeth Brackey, a native of Prince Edward's Island. That same fall they came to their present place, which was raw prairie, and there was not a house in sight at the time. They have five children - three boys and two girls. Mr. McKenzie was more successful in his mining than many gold-hunters. He and a partner in thirty-one days took out $17,780; but most of this was paid out for a claim which proved worthless; but strking another rich deposit, they got about $4,000 each before the season closed. Mr. McKenzie had a partner and mining interest in Colorado, and has this partner had a good chance to make a sale, Mr. McKenzie, who was in Idaho at the time, sent him a power of attorney. His partner made the sale for $80,000, and left with the proceeds. Mr. McKenzie found that he was gone, and traced him to New York City, where he had managed to escape on a vessel a few hours before. Mr. McKenzie's life has been one of varied experience and of much interest, leaving his home young, and spending so much of his life in the wilds of the West. His farm consists of 250 acres. He pays attention to stock and farming, having at present about 100 head of cattle. he has been in this township long enough to see all the improvements that have been made, as there were but few shanties in the township at the time he came. He is a Democrat in politics, but votes for what he considers the best man.